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Rep. Boyle and Gallego to President Trump: Clarify Your Policy on Regime Change in Syria

April 12, 2017

Press Release

Democratic Congressmen write to President Trump requesting clarification on whether it is now US policy to seek ouster of Syrian President Assad

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-13) and Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) wrote to President Trump urging him to clarify whether it is now his Administration’s policy to seek the removal from power of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The letter comes after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer compared Assad to Adolf Hitler on Tuesday and after senior advisors to President Trump offered a series of conflicting statements about this crucial aspect of American strategy in Syria over the weekend.

“I am deeply troubled by the confusion presented publicly by President Trump and members of his administration as they struggle to explain recent military action against Syria. Action that was undertaken without any clear authorization from Congress or established policy," said Rep. Boyle, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "Our Constitution makes clear that these decisions must come before Congress. Congress must not abdicate this responsibility. We, the people's elected representatives, must finally debate and vote on this issue and the President must inform us of his intentions regarding foreign policy with the Assad regime," added Boyle.

“The fact that high-ranking officials in the Trump administration are struggling to answer the most fundamental question about our objectives in Syria – whether the United States is actively pursuing regime change – leads inexorably to the conclusion that President Trump ordered the airstrikes without considering the potential consequences,” said Rep. Gallego. “Congress deserves a debate and a vote on authorizing further military action in Syria. But first, we need to know whether Trump intends to seek the removal of President Assad.”